Scholarships for Moms

Mothers want to further their education to provide better support for their children. Attaining a higher education is also a great example for kids. Some mothers wait to return to college when their kids go to school so they can go back full-time. Others are teen mothers or single mothers who are looking for a brighter future. Scholarships for mothers are a way to afford college or trade school without breaking the budget. A loan has to be repaid but scholarships are free money. Few mothers want to have a large loan to repay while they are trying to provide for their children. There are a variety of opportunities for all types of moms who long to get back to school.

Scholarships for women and single moms

Awards: $2,000
Deadline: September 30, 2023 / October 31, 2023 / November 30, 2023 / December 31, 2023

    • A parent with children currently enrolled in an accredited college or university in the United States;
    • A student currently enrolled at an accredited college or university located within the United States;
    • A parent with children currently enrolled in the third grade of a U.S. high school;
    • A student who are currently a freshman or senior in high school and intend to enroll at an accredited college or university in the United States within one year of high school graduation (“Admitted Students”).

Visit www.salliemae.com/scholarships/2k-scholarship

WISP Scholarship Program

Awards: $6,000 Deadline : March 1, Nov 1 (twice a year)
This scholarship is also for female survivors of domestic violence. WISP (Women’s Independence Scholarship Program) is a way to open the doors to education to encourage greater self-sufficiency. Support is available for full or part-time students. Requests for educational assistance are accepted on an ongoing basis. The applicant must be a survivor of domestic abuse and be separated from the abusive partner for at least one year. The woman must also be a citizen or legal resident of the United States; demonstrate financial need; be accepted or apply to an accredited study program at a United States educational institution; have a plan to enter the job market and pursue a career; and have sought help from a non-profit, domestic violence agency for at least six months that is willing to act as a sponsor/mentor. Many recipients are mothers of young children. There is no deadline. Visit wispinc.org for more info.

Capture the Dream Single Parent Scholarship

Awards: $6,000 Deadline : June 30 2024
Single parents and minority students who are residents of California might be able to score a Capture the Dream scholarship. Applicants can be graduating from high school or be full-time undergraduate students at a two or four-year university. The criteria include leadership, professional recommendations, strong academic history and community service. Completed applications are due by the middle of July each year. Single parents get a whole new lease on their future with this type of financial and educational boost. Deadline is June 30. To learn more about this opportunity, visit capturethedream.org.

Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF)

Awards: Varies Deadline: Oct 15, 2023
Single mothers face a unique series of challenges as they try to support and take care of their families. They need assistance to encourage them to continue their education. The Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund is for residents of Arkansas who are single parents. The candidates are considered financially disadvantaged and have one or more kids under eighteen. Recipients must not have previously earned a degree or diploma from a four-year school of higher learning to qualify for this award. Find out more by going to https://www.aspsf.org/scholarships

Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards

Awards: $16,000 Deadline: Nov 15, 2023
Women who provide the primary source of monetary support for their families may be eligible for the Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Awards program. This program is dedicated to helping these women improve their skills, education and employment opportunities. Every year more than 1,000 women receive $1.5 million. Many are overcoming obstacles such as domestic violence, alcohol and drug abuse and poverty. The award can be used to cover tuition, books, transportation and childcare. Applicants need to be enrolled in an undergraduate program or vocational training and show financial need. There are three levels of cash awards. Local awards vary then regional awards are up to $3,000 or $5,000 then there are three international awards of $16,000. The application deadline is November 15. To get additional details, visit soroptimist.org.

Minnesota State University Mary Jane Young Scholarship

Awards: Varies Deadline: 09/30/2023, 10/02/2023, 05/04/2024, 08/16/2024
Single mothers over the age of 25 or certain married mothers who meet the financial need requirement and have delayed higher education could qualify for the Minnesota State University Mary Jane Young Scholarship. Applicants are attending Minnesota State University and are full-time undergraduate students. They must also be re-entering college and have completed a minimum of 30 credits or transfer credits. Applicants must complete an application form; write a letter about future plans and financial need; include an unofficial transcript of college courses; and submit two letters of recommendation, with one from a faculty member.
Find more scholarships on this site: https://mnsu.academicworks.com.
Email: [email protected]

Coplan Donohue Single Parents Scholarship

Minnesota State University also offers the Coplan Donohue Single Parents Scholarship with awards up to $1,000. Qualified applicants are single parents with primary physical custody of the children. The award is specifically for good parents who excel academically and are U.S. citizens. Applicants must have 30 credits or transfer credits and be a full-time undergraduate or graduate student attending Minnesota State University. To apply, candidates must complete an application form; write an essay about their families and future goals; include an unofficial transcript of college courses; and send three letters of recommendation.
Women’s Center
218 Centennial Student Union, Mankato, MN 56001
Phone: 507-389-6146
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 507-389-1137
visit mnsu.edu/wcenter/

Wilson College Scholarships for Women with Children

Mothers can qualify for many available scholarships at Wilson College in Pennsylvania.
These awards include: Elizabeth Patterson Weitzel ’10 Scholarship Endowment; Elizabeth Van Blarcom Shirk ’49 Scholarship Endowment; Gretchen Conn Carbaugh Scholarship Endowment; Guild Daycare Scholarship; The Harry A. Blackmun Endowment; Jane Troutman Ensminger ’52 and Richard Ensminger Scholarship Endowment; The Mary Elizabeth Hicks and John Temple Evans Memorial Scholarship; Suzanne Hodgson Gottling ’56 Scholarship Endowment; The Sylvia Scalera Davison ’44 and Mary Meineke Dee ’44 Scholarship; Thomas F. and Kathleen W. Kimes ’52 Women with Children Scholarship; and The Catherine Henry Dimmick Memorial Scholarship, with preference shown to single moms who are full-time residential students.
To find out more, contact Office for College Advancement, Wilson College, 1015 Philadelphia Avenue, Chambersburg, PA 17201, (717) 262-2010, advancement at wilson.edu or visit www.wilson.edu/single-parent-scholar-program.

Answer Scholarship Endowment

Awards: $16,000 Deadline: Feb 1, 2024
Carolina women raising school-age children may qualify for the Answer Scholarship Endowment with average scholarships of $2,750 per year. Applications are submitted to the Foundation for the Carolinas between November 1 – February 1. Recipients must participate in a mentoring group that meets once a month to learn about topics such as schoolwork, family, finances and getting ready for the job market. The goal is to have recipients’ children follow in their footsteps by getting a college degree. Thus far 44 scholarships have been funded. To find out more, contact Answer Scholarship, 6420 Rea Road, Suite 355, Charlotte, NC 28277, (704) 544-1988, info at answerscholarship.org or visit answerscholarship.org.

Beatrice F. Kroesche Memorial Scholarship

Awards: $2,000 Deadline: February 1 / Number of Awards: Varies
Beatrice F. Kroesche Memorial Scholarships
are awarded to single parents enrolled in the Department of Education or the Department of English at the University of Utah. Selected students must be in good standing within their area of study, have completed at least 12 hours of study, and must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher. Scholarships may be awarded to freshmen. For more information, visit http://financialaid.utah.edu/scholarships/ or call 801.581.6211.

The Jeanette Rankin Foundation Scholarship Program

Awards: Varies Deadline: Feb 17, 2024
Low-income women age 35 and older may qualify for the Jeanette Rankin Foundation Scholarship program. The candidate must be a United States citizen or a permanent resident of the country. She should be pursuing a vocational or technical education, an associate’s degree or her first bachelor’s degree. The woman must also be enrolled in a regionally or ACICS accredited institute. The program has given over $1.8 million in scholarships to more than 700 women since 1976. It is one of the leading scholarships providing assistance to women in financial need. Deadline is February 17, 2024. To find out more, visit rankinfoundation.org.

Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation for Low-Income Women and Children

Awards: $5,000 Deadline: May, 2024
Congresswoman Patsy Takemoto Mink was committed to educational opportunities being made available to low-income women and focused predominantly on mothers. The Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation was started in 2003 and is also dedicated to enrichment for kids. Mink was the first female of color to be part of the United States House of Representatives and was dedicated to civil rights. Women with children who are pursuing training or education may qualify for awards up to $5,000. Many women have received they boost they need thanks to the Mink Education Foundation. Deadline is August 1st. To learn more, visit patsyminkfoundation.org.

The 2024-25 application will be available here in late May 2024.

RoseMarie Lipinski Foundation Scholarship

Are you a mother starting college or going back to college?
Then the scholarships offered annually by the RoseMarie Lipinski Foundation Scholarship are just for you.
A $10,000 scholarship is offered in the name of RoseMarie Lipinski and will go directly to the university to cover the scholarship recipient’s one-year tuition. Visit the site for more details!

Email: [email protected]
RoseMarie Lipinski Foundation
P.O. box 52
Western Springs, IL. 60558

The Association on American Indian Affairs Displaced Homemaker Scholarships

Homemakers with financial needs may qualify for the Association on American Indian Affairs Displaced Homemakers Scholarships of $1,500 each, in the amount of $750 each semester. Candidates must write an essay about family responsibilities and can reapply annually. Funds can be used for educational fees, basic living expenses, childcare and transportation to undergraduate courses.
Scholarships for mothers offer the encouragement and financial support women need to succeed. Returning to college can mean a significant increase in job opportunities and income. Families struggle to make ends meet when mothers are unable to get a job or work long hours for little pay. The opportunity to go to college or a vocational school can make a major difference in the quality of a family’s life. It also sets a precedent for future generations to do everything possible to reach their goals of higher education. High school graduates earn less than people with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
Deadline: May 31, 2024

Illinois Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs

Being a mother of twins is doubly challenging. The Illinois Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs (IOMOTC) is available to Illinois residents with twins, triplets and other multiples. Students must have financial need to apply for a $100 and $300 scholarship. The applicants need to be involved in a GED program or an accredited university and earn a C or better in all coursework. The deadline is September 1. Get additional details at iomotc.org.